MAY 1, 1852. 167 



been removed, walks have been widened, exfiausted beds of Rho- 

 dodendrons and other plants have been replanted and renewed, 

 seats have been constructed within the shade of trees, a better 

 approach, in stone, has been provided to the Great Conservatory, 

 and some winter and spring decoration has been given to most of 

 those beds in the Arboretum \\ hich have hitherto been merely 

 occupied by bedding out plants in summer. In aid of this 

 operation Messrs. Osborne and Co. have liberally contributed all 

 the evergreens required for the purpose. 



The only building of a permanent character which the Com- 

 mittee have caused to be constructed is a wooden house for the 

 growth of Roses. The experiment of Mr. Rivers upon the culti- 

 vation of plants in what he calls Orchard Houses — that is to say, 

 in very cheap glazed wooden sheds — has been attended with so 

 much success, and has excited so much interest among culti- 

 vators of limited means, that the Committee felt themselves 

 called upon to place in the Garden an example of this kind of 

 structure. They have therefore built a house 56 feet long and 

 23 feet wide, entirely with wood and glass, upon a plan fur- 

 nished by Mr. Rivers, for which tlie Garden funds are charged 

 with the sum of 66/. 4*. 7d. This house is to be devoted exclu- 

 sively to the cultivation of Roses, and has been planted at their 

 own charge by Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgewortli, Messrs. Paul 

 and Co., of Cheshunt, and Messrs. Lane and Co., of Great Berk- 

 hampstead, with the finest varieties which those justly eminent 

 firms could supply. The experiment will show the value of the 

 opinions of those who doubt whether plants can be advan- 

 tageously grown in such buildings. Should the experiment 

 be unsuccessful, the materials of the house can be applied to 

 some other purpose, the sashes having been jirepared with the 

 same care as if they had been intended for a more durable 

 structure. 



Measures have been also taken to place in the Garden a length 

 of the glass walls patented by Mr. Ewing, and some iron and 

 glass coverings for walls suggested by Colonel Challoner, and 

 executed by Messrs. Cottam and Hallen. These not having- 

 been fixed in the Garden at the date of the last meeting of the 

 Garden Committee, the subject must form a part of the next 

 annual Report. 



The expense to the »Society of the works now alluded to has 

 been as follows ; — 



